Cebuano players off to rousing start in Shell Active Chess Cebu leg

Cebuano players in the juniors and kiddies divisions got off to a rousing start after two rounds of action in the Cebu leg of the 14th Shell National Youth Active Chess Championships yesterday at the SM City-Cebu Entertainment Center.

In the juniors class open to players aged 20 years old below, top seed Zielbert Torres of Cebu Institute of Technology and ninth-ranked Kim Steven Yap of the University of San Carlos notched back-to-back victories to form part of a crowded leaderboard.

The other Cebu bets who joined Torres and Yap on top with similar 2.0 points were Gabriel Torres, Marvin Ting, Jhunlee Tumacao, Carl Villaruz, Rene Franco and Venancio Loyola, who subdued Bohol's brightest contender Michael Pagaran in the opening session.

Several upsets also marred yesterday's action with unheralded pawnpushers Rene Franco and Ryan Cortes of CIT edging out highly favored contenders.

Franco tamed Carlo Maraat of USC in 40 moves of the Two Knights Defense, while Cortes capitalized on Daniel Ortiz's endgame collapse in an Urang-Otan Irregular Opening.

Out-of-towners, however, continued to pose a major threat to Cebu's hometown bets with Patrick Florendo of Zamboanga City and Eric Abano also scoring two points apiece.

In the 14-Under kiddies division, last year's champion Yves Fiel of Argao, Cebu marched at the frontline of Cebu contigent with two points along with Marc Cuyag, Nikki Sabiquil, Jasmine Acman, Armando Baria and Balbona siblings Feliz Shaun, Mark and Jessa, seeded third in the divison.

It was, however, not all jubilation for the Balbonas as their younger brother John fell prey to seven-year-old Rhenzi Sevillano of Brgy. Labangon.

Promising talents from outside Cebu in the likes of Patrick's brother Joey Florendo, Steven Aguirre of Bacolod City, Jerich Cajeras of Escalante City and Lennon Salgados and Francisco Porras III both of Cagayan de Oro City also made their presence felt with two points apiece.

Salgados and Porras are sponsored by M. Lhuillier Sports Development Foundation (MLSDF) through the initiative of its executive director Eddie Ybañez, who shouldered their transportation expenses aside from providing them meal allowances and free accommodation.

Salgados finished second last year behind Fiel, but also earned a finals seat in Manila.

The top three winners in both divisions will earn an all-expense paid trip courtesy of event chief backer Pilipinas Shell to the national finals this October in Manila.